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Chief Administrative Office, in coordination with the Chief Probation Officer Memorandum of Understanding Ad Hoc Committee, recommending the Board Approve Final Passage (Second Reading) of Ordinance 5250 to specify that the Chief Probation Officer shall be appointed by the Board of Supervisors.
FUNDING: N/A
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
On January 13, 2026 the Board approved the Introduction (First Reading) of Ordinance 5250 to specify that the Chief Probation Officer shall be appointed by the Board of Supervisors and continued the matter to January 27, 2026 for Final Passage (Second Reading).
On August 26, 2025, with Legistar file 25-1512, following the retirement of the Chief Probation Officer, the Board established and appointed two members to a Chief Probation Officer Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Ad Hoc Committee to work with staff and the Courts to clearly define each agency’s roles and responsibilities regarding the recruitment and employment of the Chief Probation Officer. The Chief Administrative Office, County Counsel, and Human Resources have met several times with the Court and staff, and the Ad Hoc Committee has reviewed the MOU concepts that have been proposed and discussed by the Court and staff. The discussions have resulted in a joint recommendation from staff, the Court, and the Ad Hoc committee to change the appointing authority for the position of Chief Probation Officer from the Court to the Board of Supervisors, with input from the Court. Currently, the Chief Probation Officer is appointed by the Court but is a County employee. This presents some ambiguity because it is unclear what authority the County, as the employer of record, has over the performance of the Chief Probation Officer. This change will align the County's responsibilities as the employer of record for the Chief Probation Officer with the power to appoint, discipline, and dismiss the incumbent.
This item will update the County ordinance to designate the Chief Pr...
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